Short answer
Mother's Day is not an Islamic occasion, and many Hanafi muftis advise against observing it as a fixed celebration, since it copies a custom of other societies. In Islam honouring your mother is a duty every day. Some scholars see no harm in a gift or a call on that day if it is not treated as an Eid. Father's Day is the same.
Treating Mother's Day or Father's Day as a religious occasion is not permitted. Kindness, gifts and service to parents are rewarded on any day, and the more cautious Hanafi fatwa is not to tie them to that date.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Islam raises the mother to a rank no calendar day can match. A man asked the Prophet ﷺ who most deserves his good company. He said: your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father. Another man who wanted to go out to fight was told to stay with his mother, because Paradise is at her feet. The Quran links gratitude to parents with gratitude to Allah.
Mother's Day as we know it is a modern custom from the early twentieth century. Scholars take two views:
- The cautious view, common among Hanafi muftis: Islam has two Eids, and a yearly day copied from other societies should not be adopted. Honour your mother all year.
- The lenient view: it is a secular custom with no religious rite, so a card, a gift or a phone call on that day is not sinful, as long as it is not treated as a festival or as the only day you remember her.
Practical advice: if your mother, especially a non-Muslim mother of a convert, expects something on the day and would be hurt by silence, her feelings matter. Kindness to her is a duty, and the lenient view gives room. Better still, surprise her with gifts and help on ordinary days, so she never feels she has to wait for a date on the calendar. Read Mothers in Islam and the rights of parents.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Luqman 31:14
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍۢ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٤﴾
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.
The mother's sacrifice is singled out in the Quran.
Quran, Surah Al-Israa 17:23
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ﴿٢٣﴾
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
Kindness to parents is a constant command.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5971
Sahih... من أحق بحسن صحابتي قال أمك ...
"Who most deserves my good company? He said: your mother."
The mother has the greatest right to kindness, every day.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 3104
Graded hasan sahih... فالزمها فإن الجنة تحت رجليها ...
"Stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her feet."
Serving your mother is a path to Paradise.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Fatawa Mahmudiyya, Chapter on customs and innovations. Occasions taken from other communities are to be avoided.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.